LOS ANGELES – The way Michelle Waterson sees it, the fallout between UFC veteran Donald Cerrone and coach Mike Winkeljohn is family business.

Back in late August, Cerrone went public with some major gripes against Jackson Wink MMA Academy after it was determined that opponent Mike Perry, and not Cerrone, would be allowed to train at the gym in preparation of their UFC Fight Night 139 bout. Only this year has Perry trained at Jackson Wink, while Cerrone has been a longtime stalwart of the gym.

Cerrone especially had harsh criticism for Winkeljohn, whom he said “drove that place in the ground,” turning the gym into “puppy mill” that values money over loyalty.

Waterson, who lives in Albuquerque, N.M., and trains at Jackson Wink, wouldn’t pick sides and chalked the whole thing up as a family feud that’ll get sorted out.

“All I can say is that’s family. Family’s get into fights sometimes, and unfortunately this fight got aired out a little bit to the public, and I love and respect both ‘Cowboy’ and Coach Wink immensely,” Waterson said Monday during a media luncheo. “I wouldn’t have been at Jackson’s if it wasn’t for Donald. He’s the one that introduced me to Coach Jackson and Coach Wink, and I wouldn’t be here in my career if it wasn’t for Coach Wink. He’s been in my corner for almost over a decade, and he’s a father figure to me.

“Both men are very headstrong, and they’re like-minded, and I’m sure that they will figure out their issues.”

Waterson returns to the octagon Saturday at UFC 229, where she meets Felice Herrig in the pay-per-view opener. The closest Waterson came to picking a side was going to bat for the Jackson Wink gym, as a whole, highlighting that it’s changed and evolved over the years.

“It has to. If it doesn’t, then you’re not evolving, you’re not growing,” Waterson said. “It’s inevitable. Evolution is inevitable. Change is inevitable. If there is no change, you don’t grow, so yes, I do think it’s changed, but I don’t think it’s changed for the worse. I think it’s changed for the good. We have new blood. We have great camaraderie.

“It’s still family to me. I go there when I’m feeling down. When I need to get away from all the outside noise, the gym is my home. It’s my sanctuary. I care for both men, and they’re both very supportive for me in this upcoming fight, and it is what it is.”

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